Container of the type comprising a receptacle and a hinged lid

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a container comprising: a receptacle comprising an internal cavity designed to accommodate contents, and an opening; a lid capable of closing the opening; means for connecting the lid to the receptacle in such a way as to allow the lid to pivot with respect to the receptacle; and a capsule arranged between the receptacle and the lid, which capsule hermetically seals the opening; in which the capsule is held against an edge of the opening by negative pressure inside the cavity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of containers of the kind comprisinga receptacle and a hinged lid.

BACKGROUND ART

Containers (generally called “cans”) are known which comprise areceptacle and a lid provided with a flat gasket. The receptaclecomprises a wall defining an internal cavity designed to accommodatecontents, and an edge (or lip) defining an opening capable of beingclosed by the lid.

Such containers generally comprise means for connecting the lid to thereceptacle in such a way as to allow the lid to pivot with respect tothe receptacle.

The container is generally made of glass and the connecting meanscomprise an electroplated wire frame.

Such containers are typically used to contain food products exposed to asterilizing or pasteurizing treatment, such as terrines, pâtés, or foiesgras.

At the time of closing the receptacle, a vacuum is created in the cavityin that closing of the lid is performed in a vacuum (in a vacuum bell)or in that gas purging is caused during heat treatment (in anautoclave). Due to this vacuum, the lid is held bearing on the lip ofthe receptacle via the gasket. The gasket ensures sealing of theassembly and maintains the vacuum inside the receptacle.

Due to the gasket being compressed between the receptacle and the lid,the gasket tends to deform thus forming a bead protruding with respectto the lid and the receptacle.

Furthermore, conventionally, the gasket may have a tab extending towardthe outside of the receptacle. The tab may be gripped by a user formoving the gasket and causing a disruption of the vacuum inside thereceptacle, so as to facilitate the opening of the receptacle.

A disadvantage of this kind of container is that the gasket can be incontact with the contents of the receptacle, which might lead tocontamination of the contents.

E.g., in case the contents are food products, contact of the productwith the gasket may lead to migration of certain components of thegasket to the product. Such migration can modify the organoleptic (ortaste) characteristics of the product.

Another disadvantage is that opening of this kind of container issometimes difficult for the user as it requires a displacement of thegasket.

The document EP 1 733 977 A1 suggests a container wherein, when thereceptacle is closed, the gasket is separated from the cavity by aportion of the receptacle or the lid. Thus, the gasket is not likely tocome in contact with the contents of the receptacle.

Furthermore, the document EP 1 733 977 A1 provides specific means forfacilitating this opening.

Finally, the method for assembling such containers is relativelycomplicated, because the closing of the lid is performed under a vacuumbell or in an autoclave in order to create a vacuum. Therefore, theseoperations are performed at relatively slow rates.

The final operation of locking the lid on the receptacle is generallydone in a manual or semi-automatic way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aim of the invention is to facilitate opening of the container by auser.

Another aim of the invention is to simplify the assembly of thecontainer and to allow automation thereof.

This problem is solved by the present invention by means of a containercomprising:

-   -   a receptacle comprising an internal cavity designed to        accommodate contents, and an opening,    -   a lid capable of closing the opening, means for connecting the        lid to the receptacle in such a way as to allow the lid to pivot        with respect to the receptacle,    -   a capsule arranged between the receptacle and the lid, said        capsule hermetically sealing the opening,

wherein the capsule is held bearing on an edge of the opening due to avacuum prevailing inside the cavity.

Thanks to the presence of the capsule, closing the lid may be performedafter the passage of the receptacle inside a vacuum bell or anautoclave.

The operation of placing the capsule may be performed automatically andat high rates. Thereby it is possible in particular to reduce the timeof contact of the contents with the surrounding atmosphere. Oxidation ofcertain food products in contact with the surrounding air may indeedhave a significant impact on the visual and organoleptic aspect of theproduct, especially for foies gras and certain pâtés.

Thanks to the capsule, the presence of a gasket between the receptacleand the lid is no longer required. Therefore, the risks of the contentsbeing contaminated by the gasket are eliminated.

Furthermore, due to the capsule being protected by the lid when it is inthe closed position, the lid will guarantee that the capsule or theinformation appearing on the capsule is not affected.

After first-time use, once the capsule has been removed, the receptaclecan be easily closed again by means of the lid.

The container can advantageously have the following characteristics:

-   -   the capsule comprises means for causing a disruption of vacuum        inside the cavity, which results in the capsule separating from        the receptacle,    -   the means for causing a disruption of the vacuum inside the        cavity comprise an area of reduced resistance of the capsule so        as to facilitate incipient tearing of the capsule,    -   the means for causing a disruption of the vacuum inside the        cavity comprise an orifice made through the capsule and a        pelable or tearable membrane sealing the orifice, which membrane        may be peeled or torn off so as to release the orifice,    -   the membrane is made of food-grade plastic,    -   the capsule comprises at least one metal foil and layer of        food-grade plastic,    -   the capsule comprises a flowed-in gasket extending on a        periphery of the capsule, the capsule being held bearing on an        edge of the opening via the gasket,    -   the capsule comprises a skirt extending around a wall of the        receptacle limiting the opening, the flowed-in gasket also        extending along the skirt,    -   the means for connecting the lid to the receptacle comprise a        wire frame,    -   the container comprises means for locking the lid to the        receptacle in order to lock the lid in position when the lid is        closing the opening.

The invention also relates to a method for assembling a container asdefined previously, comprising the steps of:

a—filling the internal cavity of the receptacle with contents,

b—arranging the capsule on the opening,

c—creating a vacuum inside the cavity so that the capsule is heldbearing on an edge of the opening due to this vacuum and hermeticallyseals the opening,

d—closing the receptacle with the lid by pivoting the lid (3) withrespect to the receptacle, so that the capsule is arranged between thereceptacle and the lid.

In one embodiment of the method, steps b and c are performedsimultaneously.

Furthermore, step c is performed by injecting vapor between the capsuleand the receptacle.

Step d is performed at surrounding pressure.

The method can furthermore comprise a sterilizing or pasteurizing step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further characteristics and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description, which is purely illustrative and not limiting,and is to be read with reference to the figures attached, of which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates in a perspective view a container inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates, in a partial sectional view, thecontainer of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates steps of a method for assembling acontainer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated container 1 comprises a receptacle 2,a lid 3, a capsule 4, and means 5 for connecting the lid to thereceptacle.

The receptacle 2 is a glass jar comprising a wall having a generallycylindrical shape defining an internal cavity 22 designed to accommodatecontents, such as a food product for instance.

The receptacle 2 also comprises an opening 23 limited by an edge 24 ofthe wall 21 and a ring 25 protruding from the wall 21 in a radialdirection with respect thereto, near the opening 23.

The lid 3 is formed of glass or any other transparent material. The lid3 is hinged on the receptacle 2 via connecting means 5. In FIG. 1, thelid 23 is illustrated in the open position. The lid 3 can be transferredby rotation into a closed position in which it closes the opening 23.

As usual, the connecting means 5 comprise frames made of metal wires.The connecting means 5 comprise a first wire frame 51 fastened to thereceptacle 2 and a second wire frame 52 fastened to the lid 3. Wireframes 51 and 52 are connected together in a known manner via loops soas to form a hinge.

The connecting means 5 also comprise a third wire frame 53 forming meansfor locking the lid 3 to the receptacle 2 in order to lock the lid inthe closed position.

The capsule 4 has an internal side turned towards the cavity 22 and anexternal side opposite the internal side. The capsule 4 comprises anexternal metal foil 41, an internal metal foil 42 covered by a layer offood-grade plastic (such as a food-grade epoxy phenolic resin forinstance) and a flowed-in gasket 43 extending on a periphery of thecapsule 5. The metal foils 41 and 42 are for instance made of tinplate.

More specifically, the capsule has a disc-shaped planar center part 44and a cylindrical peripheral part forming a skirt around the center part44. The capsule 4 is arranged on the receptacle 2 so that the centerpart 44 blocks the opening 23, and the peripheral part 45 extends aroundpart of the wall 21 limiting the opening 23. The flowed-in gasket 43extends both on an area of the center part 44 and on an area of theperipheral part 45.

The capsule 4 is held bearing on the edge 24 of the opening only by dueto the vacuum prevailing inside the cavity 22. In other words, thepressure prevailing inside the cavity 22 is lower than the surroundingpressure. The pressure differential is sufficiently high for the capsule4 to be held on the receptacle 2.

More specifically, the capsule 4 is bearing on the edge 24 of thereceptacle 2 via the flowed-in gasket 43, so that the capsule 4 willhermetically seal the opening 23.

The capsule 4 also comprises an orifice 46 made through the foils 41 and42, and a pelable or tearable membrane 47 of food-grade plastic sealingthe orifice 46. The membrane 47 can be peeled or torn off to release theorifice 46 and thus cause a disruption of the vacuum inside the cavity22, with the result of separating the capsule 4 from the receptacle 2.

Thereby, a user can remove the capsule 4 from the receptacle 2 in orderto gain access to the contents inside the container 1. The user then hasthe possibility to close the lid 3 again in order to preserve thecontents of the container 1.

The external side of the capsule 4 may be printed with informationregarding the product contained inside the container 1. Due to the lid 3being made of transparent material, the information is visible throughthe lid 3 when the lid 3 is in the closed position.

Consequently, the capsule 4 offers an additional surface for markinginformation.

Furthermore, due to the capsule 4 being protected by the lid 3 in theclosed position, the lid will guarantee that the capsule or theinformation 25 marked have not been impaired.

In an alternative (not shown) of the embodiment which has beendescribed, the orifice 46 and the membrane 47 can be replaced by othermeans for causing a disruption of the vacuum inside the cavity, such asan area of reduced resistance formed in the capsule 4 so as tofacilitate incipient tearing of the capsule.

The area of reduced resistance may for instance comprise an incisionmade in the metal foils 41 and 42, but not in the plastic layer coveringthe internal foil 42. In this case, the opening can be made by tearingup the plastic layer using a tool (e.g. a knife).

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates different steps of a method 300 forassembling a container in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

The receptacle 2 is feed-driven on a conveyor 61 through a containerassembly line.

According to a first step 301, the receptacle 2 is filled with contents62. The contents 62 are deposited inside the internal cavity 22 of thereceptacle through the opening 23 (e.g. using automatic filling means63).

According to a second step 302, the capsule 4 is deposited on thereceptacle 2 and simultaneously vapor 64 is injected between the capsule4 and the receptacle 2 for purging the air contained inside thereceptacle 2.

More specifically, the capsule 4 is held in a slanting position withrespect to the feed direction of the receptacle 2. When the receptacle 2passes by, the capsule 4 is deposited naturally on the receptacle 2under the effect of gravity and is positioned on the edge of thereceptacle. Simultaneously with the capsule 4 being deposited on thereceptacle 2, the air is purged from the internal cavity 22 by thevapor, resulting in a vacuum being created inside the internal cavity22.

Step 302 may be performed by means of a fully automated high-speedcapping machine.

At the end of step 302, the receptacle 2 is hermetically sealed by thecapsule 4, the capsule being held bearing on the edge of the opening ofthe receptacle only by the vacuum prevailing inside the cavity.

According to a third step 303, the sealed receptacle 2 is introducedinside a sterilizer or a pasteurizer 65 so as to be exposed to heattreatment.

According to a fourth step 304, the lid 3 is mounted on the receptacle2.

According to a fifth step 305, the lid 3 is closed and then locked onthe receptacle 2.

The container thus produced is ready for storage.

It is to be noted that in the embodiment which has been described, thestep of depositing the capsule on the receptacle may be performedautomatically and rapidly. Therefore, the method allows for an increasein the container production rates and a reduction of the contact time ofthe contents with the surrounding atmosphere. Oxidation of certain foodproducts in contact with surrounding air may indeed have a significantimpact on the visual and organoleptic aspect of the product, especiallyin the case of foies gras and certain pâtés.

Furthermore, the steps of mounting and closing the lid are performedafter the step of sterilizing or pasteurizing the receptacle.

This has the advantage of making the closing step less complicated.

Furthermore, due to the receptacle being introduced inside thesterilizer or pasteurizer without the lid, it has a compact size. Thisallows for the introduction of a larger number of receptacles inside thesame sterilizer or pasteurizer, and contributes to an increase of thecontainer production rate.

Finally, as the lid is not exposed to heat treatment, it is up to themanufacturer to make the lid from a material which is not necessarilychosen for its characteristics of temperature resistance.

The method can be fully automated, which allows for an increase of thecontainer production rates.

1. A container comprising: a receptacle comprising an internal cavitydesigned to accommodate contents, and an opening, a lid capable ofclosing the opening, means for connecting the lid to the receptacle insuch a way as to allow the lid to pivot with respect to the receptacle,a capsule arranged between the receptacle and the lid, said capsulehermetically sealing the opening, wherein the capsule is held bearing onan edge of the opening due to a vacuum prevailing inside the cavity. 2.The container according to claim 1, wherein the capsule comprises meansfor causing a disruption of the vacuum inside the cavity, resulting inthe capsule separating from the receptacle.
 3. The container accordingto claim 2, wherein the means for causing a disruption of the vacuuminside the cavity comprise an area of reduced resistance of the capsuleso as to facilitate incipient tearing of the capsule.
 4. The containeraccording to claim 2, wherein the means for causing a disruption of thevacuum inside the cavity comprise an orifice made through the capsuleand a pelable or tearable membrane sealing the orifice, which membranecan be peeled or torn off so as to release the orifice.
 5. The containeraccording to claim 4, wherein the membrane is made of food-gradeplastic.
 6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the capsulecomprises at least one metal foil and a layer of food-grade plastic. 7.The container according to claim 1, wherein the capsule comprises aflowed-in gasket extending on a periphery of the capsule, the capsulebeing held bearing on an edge of the opening via the gasket.
 8. Thecontainer according to claim 7, wherein the capsule comprises a skirtextending around a wall of the receptacle limiting the opening, theflowed-in gasket also extending along the skirt.
 9. The containeraccording to claim 1, wherein the means for connecting the lid to thereceptacle comprise a wire frame.
 10. The container according to claim1, comprising means for locking the lid to the receptacle so as to lockthe lid in position when the lid is closing the opening.
 11. A methodfor assembling a container according to claim 1, comprising: a—fillingthe internal cavity of the receptacle with contents, b—arranging thecapsule on the opening, c—creating a vacuum inside the internal cavityso that the capsule is held bearing on the edge of the opening due tothis vacuum and hermetically seals the opening, d—closing the receptaclewith the lid by pivoting the lid with respect to the receptacle, so thatthe capsule is arranged between the receptacle and the lid.
 12. Themethod according to claim 11, wherein steps b and c are performedsimultaneously.
 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein step c isperformed by injecting vapor between the capsule and the receptacle. 14.The method according to claim 11, wherein step d is performed at asurrounding pressure.
 15. The method according to claim 11, furthercomprising a sterilizing or pasteurizing step.